Canucks Avs GDT

[rustybadcock]

Avalanche-Canucks Preview
Feb 27, 2008, 7:00 PM PT
TV Information
National TV:
TSN (HD),NHLN-US
Local Away:
ALT

Offensive struggles plagued the Colorado Avalanche for the last two weeks, but they seem to be solving those woes.

Looking to build on one of their best scoring performances this month, the Avalanche conclude their five-game road trip on Wednesday night against the surging Vancouver Canucks.

Colorado (32-26-6) totaled nine regulation goals in its last seven games and entered Tuesday with an NHL-low 34 power-play tallies. Later that night, though, Paul Stastny set up the tying goal, then scored 3:02 into overtime - both with the man-advantage - to lead the Avalanche past Calgary 3-2.

Colorado is just 2-5-1 since Feb. 12, but has split the first four games of this road swing.

"Obviously, that's a huge win for us," said Colorado captain Joe Sakic, who played in his second straight game after missing 38 due to hernia surgery. "We're down one going into the third and a great comeback. We needed the two points and hopefully we can build on this."

Stastny has two goals and an assist in three games after missing 5 1/2 weeks to recover from a groin injury suffered while trying to return from an appendectomy. Despite missing 15 games, he continues to lead Colorado with 33 assists and 52 points.

The Avs' recent scoring woes came after a 6-2 win at Vancouver on Feb. 9. Milan Hejduk scored twice in that contest, but hadn't had a point in seven games before facing the Flames. Hejduk's goal with 6:27 left in regulation tied the score at 2, and he assisted on Stastny's winner.

Adam Foote, reacquired by Colorado from Columbus for a pair of draft choices before Tuesday's trading deadline, arrived in Calgary late in the first period and logged 18 minutes, 30 seconds. Foote spent 13 seasons with the franchise after being drafted by Quebec in 1989.

The addition of Foote came one day after Colorado brought back 2003 MVP Peter Forsberg for the remainder of the season. It's not yet known when the two-time Stanley Cup winner will make his season debut.

With 70 points, the Avalanche are ninth in the Western Conference, two points behind Vancouver (32-22-8) and Nashville. Colorado also is fourth in the Northwest Division, five points behind the first-place Flames.

The Canucks extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 4-1 victory over league-leading Detroit on Saturday.

Ryan Kesler scored twice for Vancouver, which is looking for its first five-game winning streak since March 1-21. The Canucks are in position to match that thanks to Roberto Luongo, who has posted a 1.70 goals-against average during the winning streak.

"We're feeling good about ourselves and our game right now," said Luongo, who made 28 saves against the Red Wings for his 28th win this season. "We got to make sure we keep bringing the same effort every night."

Luongo has also been in net for each game against the Avalanche this season, including the defeat earlier this month in which he gave up a season-high five goals. Last season's Hart and Vezina Trophy runner-up is just 5-10-1 with a 3.14 GAA in 16 career games versus Colorado.

The Avalanche are 2-1-1 against the Canucks this season. Colorado also will try to post its first three-game winning streak over Vancouver since Oct. 8-Nov. 25, 2006.

The Canucks made one deal at the trading deadline, acquiring Matt Pettinger from Washington for Matt Cooke in a swap of left wings. Pettinger needs one point for 100 in his career.

Personally I am anxious to see Pettinger. He has good hands, something this team could always use more of. Bad news, Avs won last night in OT, seems everyone's giving points to everyone else these days. Can't win for losing as the old saying goes. Playing the Avs is never easy, I expect the same troubles tonight. But our efforts and success finds a way to continue.

RB

[KB in Kelowna]

The Canucks keep the streak alive.

[AtLossForWords]

Luongo plays lights out tonight and Raymond has another big night. The Sedins are due to pick up some points after being relatively quiet during the latter half of the streak.

I say Canucks 2-1.

[gordphish]

I don't know. I'd like to the think the fact that they gave up and handed 2 points to the Avs the last time they were in here would be enough of a reminder and motivator to them to be ready to go from the drop of the puck. But they haven't played since Saturday and have had plenty of time to lope around GM Place, patting themselves on the back for this MONSTER 4 game win streak. I have a feeling this will be one of those games where the Canucks find themselves down 2 or 3 before they've even realized the puck's been dropped.

5-3 Colorado.

[Nelson19777]

4-1 Canucks. Stuff a Foote in it. :laugh:

[AtLossForWords]

This team showed exactly why they are going absolutely nowhere tonight.

They come out and play a decent two periods of hockey where they play aggressively get some chances and move the puck on the powerplay, but they don't finish which mars the whole night.

That's not the big issue though, a team with scoring woes got the absolute best gift they could get in a hockey game. They GOT A GOD DAMN GO AHEAD GOAL WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES TO PLAY!!!!!!

What more would a team with scoring woes want then to grab a go ahead goal in the last two minutes and sit on it. They sat on it like Nonis' hands at a trade deadline.

This team took the biggest step backwards tonight, they squandered a given go ahead goal. Not only do they need the league to hand them goals now, they can't hold them defensively when they get them.

A win couldn't have come an easier than what was offered to them tonight and they thumbed their collective noses at it.

This game is a real morale killer if their ever could be one, this one really makes the pipe look half empty (inspects his pipe).

[Matt Cooke]

My heart seems to drop a little bit everytime Roberto Luongo faces the media frenzy after every loss. In his interview tonight, he basically blamed himself for what he quoted as "6 attempts to clear the puck" in the dying seconds of the game on the Joe Sakic tying goal.

[gordphish]

First off, I feel bad for Edler. He made a glaring rookie mistake trying for the short pass in his own zone instead of just clearing it, but what can you say, he's a rookie. This is how he learns.

Bottom line, that is how the playoff games are going to go, and even if they are lucky enough to get there, they don't have the offense to win them most nights.

I hope Nonis (or better yet, Acquillini) was paying real close attention to Luongo's postgame comments. He is NOT happy right now, and if you're a betting man, you put money on it having just as much to do with Nonis not getting this team any help as it did to squandering that point.

That was a huge, huge loss. The four points the Avs have walked in here and taken in the last two weeks are likely what is going to cost the Canucks a playoff spot. I can't say I'm surprised.

I want to see if all these clowns that have been coming on the radio and saying they didn't want Richards here because of his salary will have the guts to come back on the radio in early April when the Canucks are cleaning out their lockers. And that goes doubly for you, Don "the Canuck Apologist" Taylor.

[rustybadcock]

well, one game in I'd like to say that Pettinger looked a lot bigger and faster than Cooke. There is more to come from him.

Luongo is pretty cheesed off, better enjoy the party while we can if that keeps up. :wave:

RB

[KB in Kelowna]

All I can do is quote Yogi Berra: "It's deja vu all over again":(

[gordphish]

All I can do is quote Yogi Berra: "It's deja vu all over again":(

You said it KB. That game reminded me a lot of the two games they lost here to Anaheim in the playoffs last year. They had three chances to put it away on the PP in the third, fired blanks, and Colorado came away with the W. A SMART GM builds a team that doesn't put his team in positions like that at this point in the season. With another top 6 scorer, they have that game in hand in the final minute and Sakic's goal with 14 seconds left is moot.

Take a look at Dallas. They are built the same way the Canucks are, and who did they add at last year's deadline? Ladislav Nagy. Who did they add at this year's deadline? Brad Richards.

If the playoffs started today, they'd get Dallas again. Who do you all think wins that series? It's not like the Stars don't have a goalie to match Roberto Luongo, or don't play solid defense. This isn't the Eastern Conference. Almost every western playoff team has what the Canucks have, and then some.

[gordphish]

So 5 assists for Richards in his first game as a Star. Yeah, that's not worth 7.8 million per. When was the last time a Canuck had a 5 point night again?

[rustybadcock]

So 5 assists for Richards in his first game as a Star. Yeah, that's not worth 7.8 million per. When was the last time a Canuck had a 5 point night again?


I didn't even know you could score five in a night....:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Yeah, I watched part of that game. Or at least the parts I could see through the magnification caused by my tears. I sat there shaking my head and finally turned over to TV Land and JR Ewing....:eek: :laughing:

RB

[TimmyTabasco]

First of all, what is with Larschield? This guy has a love on for Sakic..."Classy move by a Classy Player!" What a joke

Bad ending to an alright game

The Canucks must rebound

[gordphish]

First of all, what is with Larschield? This guy has a love on for Sakic..."Classy move by a Classy Player!" What a joke

Bad ending to an alright game

The Canucks must rebound

Probably the same love affair a man dying of thirst has with a glass of water?

[KB in Kelowna]

:laughing: Well at least that guy from Prince Albert won the $1Million on the shoot out thing

[gordphish]

:laughing: Well at least that guy from Prince Albert won the $1Million on the shoot out thing

Yeah, that was cool. I'm glad it went to a family man. Good on ya, Darwin.